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Gang rivalry blamed for some of violence at 49ers/Raiders game

By Tracey Kaplan and Sean Maher

Bay Area News Group

Posted:
08/21/2011 01:15:33 PM PDT

Updated:
08/22/2011 10:42:44 AM PDT

In an outbreak of violence that raises fresh concerns about stadium security, rivalry between gangs -- not just among feuding fans -- apparently touched off clashes at the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders exhibition game that left two men seriously injured.

Though police remained tight-lipped, a source familiar with the investigation said friction between Nortenos and Surenos is suspected of sparking the worst confrontation -- the shooting in the parking lot of a man wearing an "(Expletive) the Niners" T-shirt by another man wearing an Oakland Raiders jersey. In an unrelated incident, a man who was savagely beaten in an upper-level men's bathroom remained in serious condition Sunday.

A third man in his 20s -- who was also shot, apparently in the face -- was in stable condition Sunday. Other brawls, some of which were captured on cellphones and posted on YouTube, also marred the preseason game at Candlestick Park.

Fight after fight broke out in the stadium -- so many that Oakland grandmother and Raiders fan Cynthia Chavarria said she lost count.

"The police, it took them forever to get to each location, and people were just being beat up,'' she said, describing the scene in the parking lot as "total chaos."

Police were treating the two parking-lot shootings as separate incidents because they took place in different areas. In an email, Sgt. Michael Andraychak said there were no "known" gang connections and that "a person of interest'' had been identified in one of the shootings. It was unclear whether that was the same person wearing Raiders garb detained Saturday night.

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The attacks heightened concerns about security at stadiums that first arose about five months ago when San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was severely beaten by two men in Los Angeles Dodgers gear outside Dodger Stadium. Two suspects have been charged in the case.

Mayors Ed Lee of San Francisco and Jean Quan of Oakland, who both attended Saturday's game and had made a friendly wager of food and coffee, issued a joint statement Sunday condemning the brawls and shootings.

"Violence will not be tolerated in either of our stadiums," they said. "The incidents at Candlestick Park last night ... are completely unacceptable and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Fans come to our stadiums to enjoy an afternoon of football, not to be subjected to intimidation or violence."

In the fourth quarter, around 7:15 p.m., a 26-year-old San Rafael man was assaulted and knocked unconscious in an upper level men's restroom, Andraychak said.

Police are seeking a male Samoan/Pacific Islander, 25 to 30 years old, 6-feet-3 to 6-feet-5, and 225 to 260 pounds. He had a goatee and long, curly hair tied in a pony tail and was last seen wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, Andraychak said.

Chavarria, the Raiders fan, said the parking lot before the game was fairly calm, but the tension spiked the moment she walked into the stadium. "Now, a bunch of people are trying to get to their seats, and they've been drinking, and now they're rowdy, everybody is screaming for the Niners or the Raiders.''

Shortly before the end of the first quarter, a fight broke out between two women in Niners clothing. "The police come, and they're dragging one girl away, but she's fighting like crazy,'' Chavarria said.

Bob Easton, a lifelong Raiders fan and organizer of the tailgating group the Grill Iron Gang, said the word among his members is that the worst of Saturday's violence was tied to gang fights. Easton wasn't at the game.

"The same thing happened at a game in Oakland four or five years ago," Easton said.

The 49ers issued a statement pledging to work with San Francisco police "in any way possible to understand how and why this happened.''"Our entire organization is hopeful for the recovery of the victims from last night's violence. ... These kind of events are disquieting to everyone in the Bay Area,'' the statement said.

The 49ers wouldn't comment Sunday on security. But their website claims the team has stepped up their "alcohol and disruptive-fan response teams,'' and warns fans who drink or "behave irresponsibly'' that they will be escorted out of the stadium and are subject to losing their season tickets. There are no metal detectors, but guards reserve the right to pat down anyone. Fans can also text security, using the keyword "BADFAN.'' Gang activity is prohibited, and so are weapons of any kind, "including silverware.''

The Raiders also released a statement, denouncing the brutal attacks, with CEO Amy Trask urging the public against negatively stereotyping all Raiders fans.

Stow, the Giants fan who was nearly beaten to death in March, has filed a negligence suit against the Dodgers, claiming that to save money, the organization had cut back on security and knowingly provided insufficient lighting.

Raiders starting cornerback Stanford Routt also decried the violence, albeit more informally in a tweet. "Shooting after an f/ballgame ... REALLY? When is it ever that serious? We must do better people. ...we're all we got at the end of the day. SMH (shaking my head)''

As the Niners and Raiders entertain the possibility of sharing a new stadium, with the leading contender being in Santa Clara, the violence only provides more fodder for opponents.

Even so, Chavarria said it won't keep her away from attending the games.

"I just make sure to have all my senses with me, to be aware of those who intrude our (sic) stadiums as fans of football, but really are just troublemakers," she said.

Anyone witnessing either crime can call the San Francisco police tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and include "SFPD" in the beginning of the text.

The 49ers beat the Raiders 17-3. The fans will have a chance to cool off; the teams aren't scheduled to play each other again this season.